No Filter
Animal nature is mostly controlled by aggression, and it is foolish to expect that wealth and civilisation will ever make much difference.
The third world is beginning to understand that it does not have to accept the rules of the wealthy west, and if we are unwilling to find a way to include the third world in our game plan, then we will have to face the consequences.
In the light of recent history, do the NATO forces of the US and the UK seriously believe that bombing the Islamic State (previously known as ISIS) will result in any kind of resolution?
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I am self-diagnosed, and I don't believe that anyone can prove me wrong
When you give material life forms millions of years of exposure to natural selection, you get super-viruses and super-predators.
When you give imaginary ideas (memetics) hundreds of years exposure to natural selection, you get what we are surrounded by today.
These ideas have been through the gauntlet and tests of time. They are aggressive and incredibly powerful.
Ideas start out as tools for us to use, but make no mistake, - they control us now, not the other way around.
That, and it is so hard for one to question themselves. I'm always fighting my need to be right, but I know I slip every now and then. Most others on the other hand...
It's annoying to think that way though, because it appears to others that you're unsure of yourself. Which pisses me off, because in reality my mind is more open, which surely makes me a bit wiser. Just having the right tone of voice/writing and stating things as a fact, and people believe you. It's just so wrong, but I understand how it happens. I'm ranting now, probably.
I too am very specific about the words I use to state something. There is a big difference between knowledge and certainty. However, I am still most often misunderstood by NTs despite my best efforts.
I want to recommend Jacob Bronoski's video series called "The Ascent of Man".
Judging from the content of your post, I would think you would love the series. It's a documentary that pre-dates Cosmos. It doesn't talk about memetics, but it does focus on the nature of knowledge vs certainty, and that is the name of episode 11 of the series.
Yes, most of the NT world out there is completely disconnected from reality due to layers of deception, and referencing imaginary things, or incorrect things as fact.
They are generally not even remotely interesting in reality though. Reality does not serve their identities.
BioBird
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

Joined: 2 Aug 2014
Age: 31
Gender: Female
Posts: 60
Location: Maryland
I just choose when to care and when not to care. If I'm alone and I know I can recuperate from the intensity of it, I'll let emotional reactions occur when I read the news. If it's a normal day, I'll think of it rationally, without the "useless" clutter of emotives, and with the best interest at heart so as to not become callous to these affairs. As in, "what can I do to help?", or the like. My career in BioEngineering is planned to be (I'm trying for it, but we'll see) centered around helping the world as a whole, and assisting in solving numerous global problems at once. That sounds like science-fiction, but it's definitely manageable. I've spoken to numerous a professor+tenured biologist and engineer about it, and they tend to agree on the fact that it would be a mutual, worldwide good.
In short, I've found that when I'm becoming upset or frustrated over a cruel or unusual situation, I'll try to think of solutions for it. Even if they aren't acted upon, a positive drive to do something is the best cure for the problems of "helpless woe and empathy". Otherwise, my frustrations for not being able to help build up and I start ranting for at least an hour to anyone who will listen. This is why I can't let myself read YouTube comments. I get frustrated for hourssss over how cruel+illogical they are.
In paradoxical news, though, I'm very rarely upset over deaths of people I had some sort of relation to, and I only cry in accepted public emotional venues (like funerals) when other people start and I see that it should be done. I value my control and occasional detachment from "blinding" emotions far too much. I just sounded like Spock. oh well. There definitely are times and places for emotional responses, though, so I hope that no one actually tries to 100% Spock Out and "kill their emotions". Doesn't work too well, it's pointless, and there are actually times when they can aid in rationalities and not hinder! woo
Thank-you for starting this thread. It's important (maybe cathartic) to express our feelings regarding "all of the horrible things" that happen in the world at large; as well as how the news-media often sensationalizes news stories; which at times can evoke our fear-mechanisms.
Personally, I've been increasingly "tuning-out" (even looking-away from the TV at times) parts of the news. I'm increasingly watching the more thoughtful national, and world news coverage e.g., MSNBC, PBS, BBC, and watching less, and less of CBS, CNN, and (sometimes cheesy) local news.
I don't know if it's related to (AS), but I personally find it easier to express my thoughts, and feelings on current news events, than I find in expressing my own thoughts, and feelings of what is a part of my (in person) life.
BirdInFlight
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jun 2013
Age: 63
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,501
Location: If not here, then where?
This for me too, although mostly it's just the news I don't watch anymore. For the same reason: the presentation is clearly designed to agitate and scare-monger, and same here, I don't need more of that.
Lately I've had to avoid all news on TV and internet because I found it was causing me panic attacks. I hate not to be informed but at the moment I also don't seem to be handling things well enough, so, for now, I have to avoid.
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SilverProteus
Veteran

Joined: 20 Jul 2007
Gender: Female
Posts: 7,915
Location: Somewhere Over The Rainbow
I think in a bid to get ratings the news is getting more graphic, gory and detailed. It's starting to affect me too so I am trying to stay away from much of that stuff. It's too much for me.
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AQ= 41
Your Aspie score: 144 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 66 of 200
I am an Aspie!
Diagnosed as an adult
I obsess about it until I find meaning. I am dedicated to seeing reality and adjusting myself to it.
Conclusions I have come to are:
people are apes (just social mammals, not any different from other animals)
perception is reality. no one sees the objective reality. we all have our biases and blind spots.
religion is lies
no one is in charge. we are completely free to do what we want. we are 100% responsible for our individual lives and the fate of humanity as a whole.
the only help you can expect in life is from family and friends, but don't even expect that. people are primarily and justifiably self-centered.
the purpose of life is to eat and reproduce. all actions are geared toward doing those two things and helping our allies do those two things (because we are social animals).
I read a lot of Kurt Vonnegut. He gets it. He makes the absurdity of life seem funny. I also listen to really messed up negative music. I don't know why but it helps me with my negative feelings. ONE MORE THING I DO, AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT, I TRY TO HELP ANY PERSON I CAN WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF A REWARD. IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES ME ANY HOPE ABOUT LIFE.